Stage 4 and yesterday saw not only the expected stage win no.10 for Granjel Cabrera but also Verona taking the GC lead via breakaway bonus seconds.
Similar could happen today as it`s still basically the time gaps of the prologue. Plus one sprinter have a shot today: Granjel Cabrera is at 18s after the win and hence best placed sprinter while Meyer is at 22s and neither showed the needed skills to take a win here. Not even coming close so far.
And another interesting thing is to watch if Afewerki can perform better with more team mates supporting him. Already half/half focussed team anyway with Berhane being here for the GC but the GC duty for Hamza surely also weakened Afewerki`s sprint train.
4 riders in the breakaway: van der Poel (24th/+26) Krigbaum (105th/+54) Daspuntsag (59th/+43) Handley (33rd/+29)
Handley wins the KoM sprint and hence getting 6 points, which rewards him with the KoM lead even. Van der Poel, who took the sprint earlier, comes over the line 2nd wiht Daspuntsag next.
Eritel did no work today in the peloton. Clearly saving energy for the final.
Instead it`s Newton now and mainly Eaton worked and closed the gap from 7min to 1min. Then Simon and Sweeting took over with support by Aeropostal and sometimes MOL.
With 27km the gap is now under 1min and the breakaway riders also getting nervous.
Van der Poel attacking and Handley follows immediately. Probably the strongest today while the other two accelerate but for now having a gap though it`s getting closed as well a bit later.
Eritel did wait until the 20km mark and now start their work behind. Being 2nd in the GC and until yesterday in the leader shirt didn`t change Hamza`s role in the team. He now is in the wind working for Afewerki. Behind him Lemus Davila, Van Winden, Iturria, Kiflay, Reguigui.
The 3 big sprinter teams of the past 2 stages working now.
10km and Handley/Van der Poel did accelerate again. This time the other two are giving up and are now passed by the peloton. Just 20s gap and looking like a third sprint finish.
And indeed once the sprint trains are forming the last two breakaway riders are also caught.
Different sprint preperations once again. This high speed final apparently delivered quite a bit chaos for many teams. And also Eritel is hit as they have 5-6 riders in the first 15 positions but just two riders in the small group that seems to open a gap while Aeropostal has their full leadout here. Just 3 main sprinters though in that group of 6!
Good news for Eritel though that Hadi finally is used for the leadout instead of early day chasing.
Nieves
Hadi
Dall'Antonia
Afewerki
Granjel Cabrera
Aregger
Only Nizzolo is also in the first rows behind the gap and fighting to make contact. No team support for the Italian though, which is unfortunate for him seeing he usually has one of the best speed in the end.
Rasmussen, Ayoune, Croket, Meyer, Vanoverschelde and others then in ~30th position and likely too late for todays decision.
And while Aeropostal looked strongest, it`s now the others acting.
Hadi showing his skills now and opening a gap. Just Afewerki able to follow. Still 2,2km though.
Nizzolo though, who just made contact to this group, sees this as winning move and also goes past Granjel Cabrera.
Dall'Antonia as last leadout giving it all while Aregger is waiting for the top favourite to make his move.
The gap behind them is big. Most likely the top6 is decided. That said MOL finally found together and is starting some kind of sprint train behind as well now while Nieves slowly drops back.
Perfect pictures but maybe disturbing a bit here? Nizzolo not amused by this TV moto or is he actually just using the slipstream?
Afewerki though goes past it as Hadi is done. 1,4km to go and Granjel Cabrera looking better with his leadout still in front.
Final corner and now Dall'Antonia id done.
Same might be said about Afewerki, who now lost the lead to Granjel Cabrera.
And also Aregger can`t go much faster it seems as he wasn`t able to follow immediately and Nizzolo also having a gap now after his earlier effort.
Look at this. Afewerki actually had some energy left and is back in front with Nizzolo having the advantage for 3rd at the moment.
150m and it`s hard to say, who is having a bit more left. At least the 1-2 should be decided as Nizzolo and Aregger just fight for the last podium spot.
But the better leadout in the end delivers Granjel Cabrera the second stage win in the 2017 ToA.
Afewerki though was close, a lot closer than it might have been expected with 3-4km to go. Strong performance as well from him.
Aregger behind them as well profits from the longer "leadout" and had more energy left. He goes past Nizzolo to take 3rd but the Italian actually showed a brilliant sprint today by closing the gap and still being pretty close. Surely a performance that should be worth to be supported more by his team mates in the sprints.
Dall'Antonia still in 5th in the background.
And while also Hadi still getting some points as 6th, it`s Haddi winning the sprint behind. Von Hoff and Vanoverschelde behind. Yet again Meyer with a bad sprint even in that later group.
GC wise this means, Granjel Cabrera not only extending his point lead but also taking the leader jersey tomorrow. Though as it`s the first uphill finish on a short ramp, it might just be for one day and instead the GC fight really begins.
